Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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616. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the reason Greyhound Racing Ireland still have no strategic plan in place two-and-a-half years after the last plan expired; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35802/25]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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617. To ask the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine the indicators and targets, as stipulated in the Code of Practice for the Governance of Stare Bodies that are being used to measure the performance of the Irish greyhound industry in the absence of a strategic plan for the past two-and-a-half years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35803/25]

Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 616 and 617 together.

Rásaíocht Con Éireann (RCÉ) is a state body, established under the Greyhound Industry Act, 1958 chiefly to control greyhound racing and to improve and develop the greyhound industry. RCÉ is a body corporate and a separate legal entity to the Department of Agriculture, Food and the Marine.

My Department operates a number of procedures and processes to ensure that RCÉ complies with the Code of Practice for Governance of State Bodies 2016 (the Code), associated circulars and relevant legislation, including full consideration of financial statements, maintenance of communication at all levels, written oversight documentation and Ministerial appointments to the Board.

RCÉ submitted its draft Strategic Plan 2025 - 2029 to my Department on 2 April 2025. Under the Code, responsibility for the content of the Plan rests with the Board. However the Board is required by the Code to weigh my views as the Minister for Agriculture, Food and the Marine and where appropriate the Minister for Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform (MPENDR). In line with the Code, I and the MPENDR had 12 weeks to fully consider the draft plan and express any views we wished to have reflected in the Plan. I provided my views to RCÉ on 6 June 2025 and the MPENDR provided feedback on 25 June 2025.

RCÉ has informed my Department that it is now making arrangements to finalise the Strategic Plan for publication and launch. Once finalised, officials in my Department will review RCÉ's performance through its regular interactions with them.